Control method for information processing apparatus, information processing apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable medium

ABSTRACT

A control method for an information processing apparatus, comprises: editing, based on a user instruction, a plurality of pages which are displayed on a display unit of the information processing apparatus and on which images designated by a user can be laid out; making, if the plurality of pages include a blank page on which no image is laid out, a notification to the user; and generating, based on a result of the editing, print data for printing the plurality of pages.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a control method for an informationprocessing apparatus, an information processing apparatus, and anon-transitory computer-readable medium.

Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, there are known N-in-1 setting and booklet print settingas the functions of a print application or a printer driver. In bookletprinting or the like, a blank page is allocated automatically inaccordance with allocation of images.

On the other hand, there is known a method of displaying a print previewscreen for a plurality of pages. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-OpenNo. 2010-176709 discloses a method in which when generating print datafor a plurality of pages forming a printing product, a preview screen isdisplayed by considering that the order of the pages in the printingproduct is different from the order (layout) of images output as printedmaterials.

In the above-described function, the plurality of pages forming theprinting product may include a blank page unintended by a user. If suchinserted blank page is unintended by the user and the user executesprinting without noticing it, a useless printed material is outputresultantly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in consideration of the aboveproblem, and prevents printing of a plurality of pages including a blankpage unintended by the user.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided acontrol method for an information processing apparatus, comprising:editing, based on a user instruction, a plurality of pages which aredisplayed on a display unit of the information processing apparatus andon which images designated by a user can be laid out; making, if theplurality of pages include a blank page on which no image is laid out, anotification to the user; and generating, based on a result of theediting, print data for printing the plurality of pages.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is providedan information processing apparatus comprising: an editing unitconfigured to edit, based on a user instruction, a plurality of pageswhich are displayed on a display unit of the information processingapparatus and on which images designated by a user can be laid out; anotification unit configured to make, if the plurality of pages includea blank page on which no image is laid out, a notification to the user;and a generation unit configured to generate, based on a result of theediting, print data for printing the plurality of pages.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program for causinga computer to execute a method, comprising: editing, based on a userinstruction, a plurality of pages which are displayed on a display unitof the computer and on which images designated by a user can be laidout; making, if the plurality of pages include a blank page on which noimage is laid out, a notification to the user; and generating, based ona result of the editing, print data for printing the plurality of pages.

According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent printingof a plurality of pages including a blank page unintended by the user.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments (with reference to theattached drawings).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a system arrangement andexamples of the hardware arrangements of apparatuses;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the software arrangementof the information processing apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a view showing an example of the basic setting screen of abookbinding application;

FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of an edit screen in the bookbindingapplication;

FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of the edit screen in thebookbinding application;

FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of the edit screen in thebookbinding application;

FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of the edit screen in thebookbinding application;

FIG. 8 is a view showing an example of the edit screen in thebookbinding application;

FIG. 9 is a view showing an example of the edit screen in thebookbinding application;

FIGS. 10A and 10B are views for explaining the layout of pages inbooklet printing;

FIG. 11 is a view for explaining an example in which blank pages areincluded in booklet printing;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of processing according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a view showing an example of notification of a blank pageaccording to the first embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a view showing an example of notification of a blank pageaccording to the first embodiment;

FIGS. 15A, 15B, and 15C are views each for explaining an example of alayout according to the first embodiment;

FIGS. 16A, 16B, and 16C are views each for explaining an example of alayout according to the first embodiment;

FIGS. 17A, 17B, and 17C are views each showing a display example of apreview screen according to the second embodiment; and

FIGS. 18A and 18B are views each showing a display example of a previewscreen according to the third embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below withreference to the drawings.

(System and Apparatus Arrangements)

An example of a system arrangement according to this embodiment will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 1. This system includes an informationprocessing apparatus 101 and a printing apparatus 151, and executesprint processing by sending print data prepared by the informationprocessing apparatus 101 to the printing apparatus 151 via a network.Note that communication between the information processing apparatus 101and the printing apparatus 151 can be performed via an access point 131by, for example, a wireless LAN complying with the IEEE802.11 standardseries. Note that although an embodiment based on a network arrangementusing the access point 131 will be described below, another arrangementin which the information processing apparatus 101 and the printingapparatus 151 are communicable with each other may be used. For example,the information processing apparatus 101 and the printing apparatus 151may be connected via a wired line (not shown). Furthermore, an apparatushaving both the function of the information processing apparatus 101 andthe function of the printing apparatus 151 may be used. In this case,information can be exchanged between the information processingapparatus 101 and the printing apparatus 151 via buses in theapparatuses and the like. A plurality of blocks shown in FIG. 1 may beintegrated into one block and one block may be divided into a pluralityof blocks. In addition, a block other than those shown in FIG. 1 may beadded, and one or more of the blocks shown in FIG. 1 may be omitted.

The information processing apparatus 101 is an arithmetic apparatuscapable of converting print target data into print data, such as apersonal computer (PC), a smartphone, a mobile terminal, a notebook PC,a tablet terminal, or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant). The printingapparatus 151 is an arbitrary printer capable of executing printprocessing by obtaining print data from an external apparatus such asthe information processing apparatus 101. Assume that the printingapparatus 151 executes printing by the inkjet method in this embodiment.However, for example, the printing apparatus 151 may execute printing byanother arbitrary method such as an electrophotographic method. Theprinting apparatus 151 may be a Multi Function Peripheral having aplurality of functions such as a copy function, a FAX function, and aprint function.

The information processing apparatus 101 includes, for example, an inputinterface 102, a CPU 103, a ROM 104, a RAM 105, an external storagedevice 106, an output interface 107, a communication unit 109, and ashort-range wireless communication unit 110. CPU, ROM, and RAM areacronyms for “Central Processing Unit”, “Read Only Memory”, and “RandomAccess Memory”, respectively. The computer of the information processingapparatus 101 is formed by the CPU 103, the ROM 104, the RAM 105, andthe like. Note that although FIG. 1 shows an example a case in which theinformation processing apparatus 101 displays information on a displaydevice (display unit 108) such as an external display, the informationprocessing apparatus 101 may include the display unit 108.

The input interface 102 is an interface for receiving a data input andan operation instruction from a user. The input interface 102 is formedby, for example, a physical keyboard, buttons, a touch panel, or thelike. Note that the output interface 107 (to be described later) and theinput interface 102 may be integrated so that output of a screen andreception of an operation from the user are performed using commonhardware.

The CPU 103 serves as a system control unit, and controls the overallinformation processing apparatus 101. The ROM 104 stores permanent datasuch as control programs to be executed by the CPU 103, data tables, andan embedded operating system (to be referred to as an “OS” hereinafter)program. In this embodiment, the control programs stored in the ROM 104perform software execution control such as scheduling, task switching,and interrupt processing under the management of the embedded OS storedin the ROM 104. The RAM 105 is implemented by an SRAM (Static RandomAccess Memory) or the like that needs a backup power supply. Note thatthe RAM 105 holds data by a primary battery (not shown) for data backup,and can thus store important data such as program control variableswithout volatilizing them. The RAM 105 can be provided with a memoryarea to store setting information and management data of the informationprocessing apparatus 101, and the like. The RAM 105 can also be used asthe main memory and work memory of the CPU 103.

The external storage device 106 saves an application for providing aprint execution function, a print information generation program forgenerating print information interpretable by the printing apparatus151, and the like. The external storage device 106 can also save variousprograms such as a control program for sending/receiving informationto/from another apparatus (for example, the printing apparatus 151)connected via the communication unit 109, and various kinds ofinformation to be used by these programs.

The output interface 107 is an interface used by the display unit 108 toperform control for displaying data and presenting information of thestate of the information processing apparatus 101. The output interface107 outputs control information and display target information forcausing the display unit 108 to display the information. The displayunit 108 includes an LED (Light Emitting Diode) and LCD (Liquid CrystalDisplay), and displays data and notifies the user of the state of theinformation processing apparatus 101. Note that a software keyboardincluding keys such as numerical value input keys, a mode setting key,an enter key, a cancel key, and a power key may be displayed on thedisplay unit 108, and an input from the user may be received via thesoftware keyboard.

The communication unit 109 includes a radio frequency (RF) circuit and abaseband circuit for executing data communication by performingconnection to an external apparatus such as the printing apparatus 151.For example, the communication unit 109 can communicate with theprinting apparatus 151 via the access point 131 existing separately fromthe information processing apparatus 101 and the printing apparatus 151.The access point 131 can be, for example, a device such as a wirelessLAN router that operates in accordance with a wireless communicationmethod complying with the IEEE802.11 standard series. Furthermore, thecommunication unit 109 may establish direct connection to the printingapparatus 151 in accordance with a protocol such as Wi-Fi (WirelessFidelity) Direct®. If the printing apparatus 151 includes an accesspoint (not shown), the communication unit 109 may be connected to theaccess point to establish direct connection to the printing apparatus151. Note that the communication unit 109 can be configured to performcommunication by WiFi® but may perform communication by another wirelesscommunication method such as Bluetooth®.

The short-range wireless communication unit 110 executes datacommunication by establishing wireless connection to the short-rangewireless communication unit 157 of the printing apparatus 151 based onat least the fact that the printing apparatus 151 (external apparatus)enters a predetermined short-range area. The short-range wirelesscommunication unit 110 performs communication by a communication methoddifferent from that of the communication unit 109, such as Bluetooth LowEnergy (BLE) or Near Field Communication (NFC).

The printing apparatus 151 includes, for example, a ROM 152, a RAM 153,a CPU 154, a print engine 155, a communication unit 156, and ashort-range wireless communication unit 157.

The communication unit 156 includes a radio frequency (RF) circuit and abaseband circuit for performing connection to an external apparatus suchas the information processing apparatus 101. The communication unit 156corresponds to the communication unit 109 of the information processingapparatus 101, and performs communication by a wireless communicationmethod such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. The communication unit 156 may bedirectly connected to the communication unit 109 of the informationprocessing apparatus 101 by functioning as an access point or inaccordance with a predetermined protocol, as described above, or may beconnected to the communication unit 109 via the external access point131 or the like. If the communication unit 156 functions as an accesspoint, the communication unit 156 may have hardware for functioning asan access point, or may use software that allows the communication unit156 to function as an access point. Note that although the informationprocessing apparatus 101 and the printing apparatus 151 are connected tothe one access point 131 in the example of FIG. 1, they may be connectedto different access points connected to the network, and may beconnected to each other via the network.

The short-range wireless communication unit 157 executes datacommunication by establishing wireless connection to the short-rangewireless communication unit 110 of the information processing apparatus101 based on at least the fact that the information processing apparatus101 (external apparatus) enters a predetermined short-range area. Theshort-range wireless communication unit 157 corresponds to theshort-range wireless communication unit 110 of the informationprocessing apparatus 101, and performs communication by a wirelesscommunication method such as BLE. Note that, for example, printinformation sent from the information processing apparatus 101 or thelike has a large amount of data, requires high-speed large-capacitycommunication, and is thus received via the communication unit 156capable of performing communication at a speed higher than that of theshort-range wireless communication unit 157.

The RAM 153 is a memory similar to the RAM 105. The RAM 153 is providedwith a memory area to store setting information and management data ofthe printing apparatus 151, and the like. The RAM 153 is also used asthe main memory and work memory of the CPU 154, functions as a receptionbuffer for temporarily saving print information received from theinformation processing apparatus 101 or the like, and also saves variouskinds of information. The ROM 152 stores permanent data such as controlprograms to be executed by the CPU 154, data tables, and an OS program.When the CPU 154 executes the control programs stored in the ROM 152,software execution control such as scheduling, task switching, andinterrupt processing can be executed under the management of theembedded OS stored in the ROM 152. The CPU 154 serves as a systemcontrol unit, and controls the overall printing apparatus 151. Note thata memory such as an external HDD or SD card may be mounted as anoptional device on the printing apparatus 151, and the information savedin the printing apparatus 151 may be saved in such memory.

The print engine 155 forms an image on a print medium such as a sheetusing a recording material such as ink based on the information saved inthe RAM 153 and the print information received from the informationprocessing apparatus 101 or the like, and outputs a print result.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the functionalarrangement of the information processing apparatus 101. The informationprocessing apparatus 101 includes, for example, as functionalcomponents, a bookbinding application 201 that executes processing (tobe described later), and a printer driver 202 that generates print datainterpretable by the printing apparatus 151. When the user inputs aprint instruction to the screen of the bookbinding application 201 (tobe described later), the printer driver 202 receives application dataoutput from the bookbinding application 201, and generates print data.Then, when the printer driver 202 sends the print data generated by thebookbinding application 201 to the printing apparatus 151, the printingapparatus 151 executes print processing.

(Overview of Operation of Bookbinding application)

Subsequently, an example of the procedure of an operation executed bythe above-described bookbinding application 201 will be described. FIG.3 shows an example of a basic setting screen displayed on the displayunit 108 when the CPU 103 of the information processing apparatus 101executes, for example, programs corresponding to the bookbindingapplication 201 stored in the ROM 104 and the external storage device106. As an example, a basic setting screen 300 includes a post-printingimage 301, a printer selection region 302, a sheet size selection region303, a binding method setting region 304, a binding direction settingregion 305, and a cover sheet-related setting region 306.

The printer selection region 302 is a region where a printing apparatusto be used is selected. When a pull-down button in the printer selectionregion 302 is pressed by a user operation, a list of printingapparatuses usable by the information processing apparatus 101 isdisplayed, and the user can select a printing apparatus to be used tocreate a booklet by the bookbinding application 201. Note that withrespect to the list of the printing apparatuses displayed when thepull-down button in the printer selection region 302 is pressed, onlyprinting apparatuses supportable by the bookbinding application 201 canbe displayed. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Forexample, all the printing apparatuses usable by the informationprocessing apparatus 101 may be displayed regardless of whether they canbe supported by the bookbinding application 201.

The sheet size selection region 303 is a region where a sheet size to beused for printing is selected. When a pull-down button in the sheet sizeselection region 303 is pressed by a user operation, a list of sheetsizes usable by the printing apparatus selected in the printer selectionregion 302 is displayed. The user can select, from the displayed list ofthe sheet sizes, one size corresponding to the size of a booklet to becreated. Note that information of the sheet sizes usable by the printingapparatus selected in the printer selection region 302 can be obtainedfrom the printing apparatus via, for example, the printer driver 202.

The binding method setting region 304 is a region where a binding methodof a booklet is set. When a pull-down button in the binding methodsetting region 304 is pressed by a user operation, for example, “sidestitch” and “saddle stitch” are selectably displayed. “Side stitch” is abiding method of performing printing by attaching a binding materialsuch as a staple at a position a predetermined distance away from aspine portion of a booklet. “Saddle stitch” is a binding method ofperforming printing by attaching a binding material such as a staple toa folding portion of doubled sheets. If “saddle stitch” is selected, itis assumed that the sheets are doubled, and thus a 2-in-1 print settingcan be selected automatically. Note that if “saddle stitch” is selected,for example, settings such as 4-in-1 other than 1-in-1 may be selectablydisplayed. Note that if “side stitch” is selected, a 1-in-1 printsetting can be selected automatically. In this case as well, however,settings such as 2-in-1 and 4-in-1 may be selectably displayed. Notethat if 2-in-1 is not selected for “saddle stitch” or if 1-in-1 is notselected for “side stitch”, page allocation (to be described later) isdifferent accordingly. Note also that the N-in-1 print setting is aprint setting for printing N images based on N image data on a sheet(one sheet) for one page.

The binding direction setting region 305 is a region where a bindingdirection of a booklet is set. When a pull-down button in the bindingdirection setting region 305 is pressed by a user operation, forexample, “right-side binding” and “left-side binding” are selectablydisplayed. In some cases, “upper binding” may be selectably displayed.“Right-side binding” indicates a binding direction that binds the rightside of the front cover, and “left-side binding” indicates a bindingdirection that binds the left side of the front cover. In addition,“upper binding” indicates a binding direction that binds the upperportion of the cover. A string “binding direction” in the bindingdirection setting region 305 may be replaced by “open direction” or thelike. The rightward corresponds to right-side binding and the leftwardcorresponds to left-side binding. The setting in this region determineswhether the pages of a booklet to be created advance from right to leftor from left to right.

The cover sheet-related setting region 306 is a region where a coversheet is set. For example, radio buttons that allow the user to selectone of an item for creating covers and text by the same type of sheetsand an item for creating covers and text by different types of sheetsare displayed. Note that if, in the setting region 306, the covers andtext are created by the same type of sheets, the sheet type (forexample, “normal paper” or the like) of the text is set as the sheettype of the covers, and thus the region that allows selection of thesheet type of the covers is grayed out so as not to be selected. On theother hand, if the setting of creating covers and text by differenttypes of sheets is selected in the setting region 306, the region thatallows selection of the sheet type of the covers is activated. Then,when a pull-down button in the region where the sheet type of the coversis set is pressed, a list of selectable sheet types (for example, glossypaper, normal paper, and the like) is displayed. Note that, for example,if “normal paper” is selected, a character string “borderless printingis impossible” can be displayed. Alternatively, if a sheet type (forexample, “glossy paper”) except for “normal paper” is selected, acharacter string “borderless printing is possible” can be displayed.This is because printing can be executed on normal paper using arecording material containing a pigment but borderless printing cannotbe executed in printing using a recording material containing a pigment.In addition, necessary information may be set for each sheet type, and acharacter string corresponding to the sheet type selected by a useroperation may be displayed. Furthermore, if the setting of creatingcovers and text by different types of sheets is selected, a message suchas “it is necessary to print by setting different sheets for cover/text”may be displayed.

When “OK” is pressed in the basic setting screen shown in FIG. 3, thescreen transitions to an edit screen. The edit screen is a screen forediting each page by receiving a user instruction. Print data forprinting each page is generated based on a result of editing in the editscreen. The edit screen may be different in accordance with the settingitems such as the binding method and the setting of whether the sheettype of the covers is set to be the same as that of the text. Examplesof the edit screen corresponding to the basic settings will be describedbelow.

[Case in which Side Stitch is Selected and Covers and Text are Createdby Same Type of Sheets]

FIG. 4 shows an example of the edit screen when the binding method isside stitch (1-in-1), right-side binding is selected, and the setting ofusing the same type of sheets for the covers and text is made. Note thatthe example of FIG. 4 shows an example of a state in which eight (fromoriginal data representing an image in which “A” is written to originaldata representing an image in which “H” is written) original data (imagedata) have already been loaded. In a stage before original data areloaded, an edit region 401 and an original data region 402 are in apredetermined state (for example, a blank state) in which the user canrecognize that no original data have been loaded. Note that in, forexample, the stage before the original data are loaded, a message suchas “please load original data to be put in a booklet” may be displayedin the edit region 401, and a message that notifies the user of a methodof loading data may further be displayed. Note that such message may bedisplayed in the original data region 402. Another method such asdisplay of a dialog may be used to prompt the user to load originaldata.

When the user clicks on a “load” button 403, for example, a fileselection dialog is displayed, and the user selects, from a displayedfile list, a file to be used to create a booklet. When a file isselected, contents of the file (original data included in the file) areexpanded in the original data region 402. Furthermore, when a file isselected, a result of performing automatic page allocation as processingof automatically allocating (linking) original data included in the fileto pages to be printed can be displayed in the edit region 401. Notethat in automatic page allocation, specific original data to beallocated to a specific page may be arbitrarily decided. Assume thatnumbers are assigned to the original data and original data having asmaller number is allocated to a page having a smaller number. The editregion 401 shown in FIG. 4 shows an example of a case in which automaticpage allocation is performed in this way. In the expanded file, originaldata as the first original data representing an image in which “A” iswritten is set in the front cover as the first page. Then, original dataas the second original data representing an image in which “B” iswritten is set in the back cover as the second page. Original data asthe third original data representing an image in which “C” is written isset in the inside of the front cover as the third page, and originaldata as the fourth original data representing an image in which “D” iswritten is set in the inside of the back cover as the fourth page. Notethat the numbers of pages other than the back cover and its inside maybe smaller than those of the back cover and its inside. That is, thefirst and second original data in the file may be allocated to “frontcover” and “inside of front cover”, respectively. The last original dataand the second original data from the last in the file may be allocatedto “back cover” and “inside of back cover”, respectively. Note that FIG.4 and some following examples show an example of a case in whichright-side binding is selected, and the front cover is displayed at therightmost end and the back cover is displayed at the leftmost end.However, if left-side binding is selected, the front cover is displayedat the leftmost end and the back cover is displayed at the rightmostend.

Note that when the contents of the file are expanded in the originaldata region 402, for example, a confirmation message such as “do youwant to perform automatic page allocation?” may be displayed to receiveuser determination of whether to automatically perform page allocation.In this case, if the user approves automatic page allocation, a resultof performing automatic page allocation is displayed in the edit region401; otherwise, the edit region 401 may remain blank. Alternatively, thecontents of the selected file may only be expanded in the original dataregion 402 without performing automatic page allocation regardless ofuser determination. Note that even if automatic page allocation is notperformed, when the user clicks on an “add all” button 404, automaticpage allocation of the original data expanded in the original dataregion 402 can be performed. Note that the user can perform manual pageallocation by dragging and dropping, in the edit region 401, theoriginal data expanded in the original data region 402. That is, theuser can arbitrarily decide a specific original data to be allocated toa specific page. Note that manual page allocation may be executed in astate in which no automatic page allocation has been performed or may beexecuted to change contents of allocation after automatic pageallocation is performed.

Note that when a plurality of files are read out, all contents of theplurality of files are expanded in the original data region 402. At thistime, the order of the original data to be expanded can be decided by apull-down menu 405. For example, if, as shown in FIG. 4, “load order” isselected, the data are expanded in the original data region 402 in anorder such that data of a file selected earlier and thus loaded earlieris displayed on the left side. To the contrary, if, for example, “filename order” (not shown) is selected, the data are expanded in ascending(descending) order of file names. If, for example, a file whose name is“A.pdf” is opened after a file whose name is “B.pdf”, when “load order”is selected, data of “A.pdf” is displayed on the right side of aposition at which data of “B.pdf” is displayed. On the other hand, if“file name order” is selected, even if “B.pdf” is opened first, the dataof “B.pdf” is displayed on the right side of a position at which thedata of “A.pdf” is displayed. Note that the sort order is not limited tothe load order or the file name order, and various orders such as theorder of the file creation date (update date), the order of the usefrequency in this application, and the order of the file capacity can beused. Note that the example in which the data of the pdf form are loadedhas been explained but the present invention is not limited to this. Forexample, data of the jpg form may be loaded. Furthermore, a plurality oforiginal data corresponding to a plurality of pages may be included inone data of pdf form. If data of the pdf form including a plurality oforiginal data is loaded, the plurality of original data included in thedata of the pdf form are discriminated and expanded in the original dataregion 402. The order of expansion of the original data is a page orderdefined in the data of the pdf form.

In the edit region 401, sheet regions (medium regions) 417 eachindicating the size of a print medium on which each page is printed andimages represented by the original data allocated to the respectivepages are displayed. The sheet regions 417 are displayed in the editregion 401 in the page order of the booklet after completion.Furthermore, display is performed so that the distance between two pagesincluded in a double-page spread is shorter than the distance to anotherpage that is adjacent but forms no double-page spread. This allows theuser to readily determine a page forming a double-page spread and a pageforming no double-page spread. Note that the double-page spreadindicates pages for printing one image represented by one original datato span two pages. Therefore, two pages included in a double-page spreadare pages that are adjacent to each other and are printed on differentsheets. In the example of FIG. 4, when the distance between the pagewhere “C” is written and the page where “E” is written is sufficientlyshort, it is understood that these pages have the spread relationship.On the other hand, when the distance between the page where “E” iswritten and the page where “F” is written is relatively longer than thatbetween the page where “C” is written and the page where “E” is written,it is understood that these pages are adjacent to each other but have nospread relationship. In this way, all the pages included in the bookletare displayed in the edit region 401. Note that the example of FIG. 4shows an example of a case in which all the pages included in thebooklet can be displayed as a whole. However, if the number of pagesincreases while maintaining the state in which all pages are displayed,the size of each page may become small. To cope with this, thebookbinding application can be configured to performenlargement/reduction display of each page. At this time, if all thepages cannot be displayed in the edit region 401, a display area can bemoved by, for example, displaying a scroll bar in the lower portion ofthe edit region 401.

Note that if side stitch is selected, binding positions 406 at whichsheets on which images displayed in the edit region 401 are printed arebound by binding materials such as staples are also displayed in thesheet regions. The binding positions 406 can be displayed in the pagesby, for example, a predetermined color (for example, red) so that theuser can recognize them. The binding positions 406 can be printed intactas they are displayed in the sheet regions. This allows the user tograsp the positions at which staples are to be attached when binding thebooklet. Note that the binding positions 406 may be printed on the frontcover and the back cover, and may not be printed on the remaining pages.The binding material for binding the booklet is not limited to a staple,and may be, for example, a string or plastic band. In addition, whendesignation of the layout positions of the binding positions 406 in thesheet regions is received from the user, the binding positions 406 canbe located at arbitrary positions.

In each sheet region 417 displayed in the edit region 401, a printregion 407 indicating a region where an image can be printed isdisplayed. A line indicated by the print region 407 in FIG. 4 indicatesthe boundary between the print region and a margin region where a marginis always provided (that is, no image is printed without fail). When theuser inputs each setting value in a region of page setting 408, theoriginal data is laid out in the sheet region 417 based on the settingvalues. For example, in the page setting 408, the user sets theenlargement/reduction method of each image laid out in the edit region401. More specifically, if “according to margin” is selected, each imageis enlarged/reduced to fit in with the print region 407. If “accordingto sheet” is selected, each image is enlarged/reduced to fit in with thesheet region 417. If “full scale” is selected, each image is displayedin the actual size without enlargement/reduction. Note that a portion ofeach image that extends outside the print region 407 is not printed, andis thus displayed translucently. For example, the user sets the positionof each image in the page setting 408. If, for example, a negative valueis input as the vertical or horizontal position of the image, theposition of the image laid out in the sheet region 417 is moved upwardor leftward. Alternatively, if a positive value is input as the verticalor horizontal position of the image, the position of the image laid outin the sheet region 417 is moved downward or rightward. This allows theuser to set in detail how the image represented by the original data islaid out in the sheet region 417. Note that these settings can beapplied for each page. For example, in the state in which the page where“E” is written is selected in the edit region 401, when the settingvalues are input in the page setting 408, the setting values areapplicable to only the selected page. Note that when “apply to allpages” is selected in the page setting 408, the input settings arecollectively applied to all the pages. Note that at this time, the usercan recognize the currently selected page when the frame of the sheetregion 417 corresponding to the page where “E” is written is highlightedas a page frame 409. In addition, the user can delete the selected pagefrom the edit region 401 by pressing, for example, an icon 410.

The user can allocate one original data to span two pages by selecting a“spread” checkbox 415. An operation of changing a page forming nodouble-page spread to a page forming a double-page spread by selectingthe “spread” checkbox 415 is called “spreading”. FIG. 5 shows a displayexample when the “spread” checkbox 415 is selected in the state in whichthe page where an image with “E” written is laid out is selected, asshown in FIG. 4. When the “spread” checkbox 415 is selected, the imagelaid out on the selected page is laid out to span two pages. If the“spread” checkbox 415 is selected in the state in which an even-numberedpage (the right page of a spread for right-side binding or the left pageof a spread for left-side binding) of the text is selected, the selectedpage is displayed at the center of the spread. Then, the pages arereallocated so that the pages after the selected page are shiftedbackward by one page. That is, in this case, a spread is allocated toone page by adding one page after the selected page.

On the other hand, if an odd-numbered page of the text (the left page ofa spread for right-side binding or the right page of a spread forleft-side binding), like the page where “E” is written in FIG. 4, isselected, the next page of the selected page forms a spread differentfrom a spread formed by the selected page. Therefore, if only one pageis added after the selected page to allocate the one page to a regionfor two pages, the page cannot be displayed in a spread. Therefore, if,for example, the “spread” checkbox 415 is selected in the state in whichthe odd-numbered page of the text is selected, as shown in FIG. 5, onepage can be added not only after but also before the selected page. Thismakes it possible to surely allocate the selected page to a spread. Notethat in this case, the pages are reallocated so that the pages after theselected page are shifted backward by two pages.

When the “spread” checkbox 415 is selected in the state in which theodd-numbered page is selected, a message for notifying the user that onepage is added before the selected page may be displayed. If the userapproves addition of the page, processing of performing allocation to aspread may be executed. This can prevent addition of a page unintendedby the user. Note that if the user does not approve addition of a page,processing of performing allocation to a spread need not be executed ora space for one page may be added after the selected page to allocatethe selected page to the region for two pages. When the “spread”checkbox 415 is selected in the state in which the odd-numbered page isselected, a space for one page may be added after the selected page toallocate the selected page to the region for two pages withoutdisplaying the above-described message. Note that when such allocationis performed, a message indicating that the selected page is not printedin a spread may be displayed.

When the “spread” checkbox 415 is cleared after the page is allocated toa spread, the (preceding and succeeding) pages added at the time ofallocation of the page to the spread are deleted, and the pages afterthe pages are reallocated. Note that, for example, a message indicatingwhether to delete pages such as blank pages added when the odd-numberedpage is allocated to the spread may be displayed.

Note that when horizontally long original data is dragged and dropped inthe edit region 401 (or allocated automatically), processing ofallocating a spread automatically may be performed. In this case, the“spread” checkbox 415 is selected automatically. Furthermore, if theinsertion position of this page is an odd-numbered page, a blank page orthe like may be inserted (added) before the page, as described above, orpredetermined error display or the like may be performed. When, afterthe horizontally long page is allocated to the spread, the “spread”checkbox 415 is cleared, the allocation to the spread is released andthe horizontally long page can be allocated to one-side page (forexample, by reduction or rotation). Note that the horizontally long pagemay be allocated to one-side page, similarly to a vertically long pagewithout automatically allocating the horizontally long page to thespread. Referring back to FIG. 4, with respect to the selected page, animage of the spread including the page after printing is displayed as abooklet preview 411, and thus the user can readily recognize the stateof the selected page after completion of the booklet. Note that when “<”or “>” in the preview is selected, a preview of an adjacent spreadbetween adjacent pages can be displayed. At this time, the selected pagemay move together, or only the pages of the preview may move withoutsynchronizing the selected page and the preview with each other.

As described above, the user can operate the data expanded in theoriginal data region 402 for each page by manual page allocation. FIG. 4shows a state in which the original data representing an image in which“C” is written is selected from the data expanded in the original dataregion 402. If the thus selected original data is dragged and dropped inan arbitrary position of the edit region 401, it is allocated to a pagecorresponding to the dropped position. For example, if the original datarepresenting an image in which “C” is written is dragged and dropped ina predetermined area, in the edit region 401, between the page where “F”is written and the page where “G” is written, the page where “C” iswritten is inserted between the page of “F” and the page of “G”. Notethat if such page is inserted, the page numbers and the spreadrelationship are reconstructed accordingly. That is, the number of thepage where “C” is written becomes the number of the page where “G” iswritten before insertion, and the numbers of the pages after the pagewhere “G” is written are shifted backward by one. The page of “F” andthe newly added page of “C” have the spread relationship, and the pageof “G” has the spread relationship with the page of “H” due to additionof the page of “C”.

Furthermore, the user can add a blank page by pressing an “add blankpage” button 412. In this embodiment, the blank page indicates a page towhich the original data selected by the user is not allocated, that is,a page where an image based on the original data selected by the user isnot laid out. For example, if the “add blank page” button 412 is pressedin the state in which the page where “C” is written is selected in theedit region 401, a blank page is added between the page where “C” iswritten and the page where “E” is written. A blank page may be added tothe right or left side of the selected page in accordance with apredetermined rule or, if two pages are selected, may be added betweenthe two pages. Thus, a blank page can be added to an arbitrary positionin the booklet in accordance with the user's preferences, for example, apreference for setting the back surfaces of the covers blank.

Note that if each data in the original data region 402 is allocated to apage in the edit region 401, information for specifying it is added atthe upper left position of each data in the original data region 402.Referring to FIG. 4, for example, an icon indicating allocation to thefront cover is added to each of the original data representing an imagein which “A” is written and the original data representing an image inwhich “C” is written. This allows the user to recognize that, forexample, data to be allocated to a page in the booklet is not allocated,data not to be allocated to a page in the booklet is unwantedlyallocated, or whether the data allocated to the cover is appropriate.The user can delete data not to be used for creation of the booklet inthe original data region 402. For example, the user can select an icon413 displayed at the upper right position of the data in the selectedstate to delete the selected data from the original data region 402.This can prevent an edit operation from becoming cumbersome due to theexistence of many data not to be used in the original data region 402.

Furthermore, in the original data region 402, it is possible to select aplurality of data and collectively operate them. For example, when theoriginal data representing an image in which “C” is written and theoriginal data representing an image in which “D” is written arecollectively selected and are collectively dragged and dropped in theedit region 401, these data can be allocated to two successive pages.The same applies to a case in which three or more data are selected.Furthermore, if a “multi delete” button 414 is pressed in a state inwhich a plurality of data are selected, the plurality of data cancollectively be deleted from the original data region 402. Note that ifone data is selected or no data is selected, the “multi delete” button414 can be disabled, for example, grayed out.

Upon completion of editing of the booklet, as described above, the usercan execute printing of each page displayed in the edit region 401 bypressing a print setting button 416. Note that in the state in which theprint setting of side stitch (1-in-1) is made, when n is an integer of 1or more, double-sided printing is executed so that the (2n-1)th page and2nth page have the front-back relationship. Note that double-sidedprinting is executed so that the front cover and its back surface havethe front-back relationship and the back cover and its back surface havethe front-back relationship.

[Case in which Saddle Stitch is Selected and Covers and Text are Createdby Same Type of Sheets]

Subsequently, an example of the edit screen when the biding method issaddle stitch (2-in-1), and the setting of using the same type of sheetsfor the covers and text is made will be described with reference to FIG.6. The edit screen in this case is almost the same as that shown in FIG.4. However, in the case of saddle stitch, the binding positions arebetween the pages, and thus the marks indicating the biding positionsneed not be displayed, as shown in a screen example 600 of FIG. 6. Notethat when printing on a paper surface, the marks indicating the bidingpositions may or may not be displayed at predetermined positions betweenthe pages. Furthermore, for example, the mark indicating the bindingpositions may be printed at positions that can be seen when being outputas a booklet, instead of being printed on all the sheets.

Note that if the binding method is saddle stitch (2-in-1), 2-in-1double-sided printing is executed, and thus the number of pages persheet is four. Therefore, if the number of pages added to the editregion 401 is not a multiple of 4, a page such as a blank page can beautomatically added to the end so that the total number of pages is amultiple of 4. Note that a blank page is added when, for example, theedit screen is displayed, a page is added during display of the editscreen, a preview screen is displayed, or a print instruction isexecuted to generate print data.

Note that in the state in which the binding method is saddle stitch(2-in-1) and the print setting of right-side binding is made, the frontsurface of one sheet including the (N/2+2m+2)th page on the right sideand the (N/2−2m−1)th page on the left side is printed. In the aboverelationship, N represents the total number of pages and m is an integerof 0 or more. Then, the back surface of the sheet including the(N/2−2m)th page on the right side and the (N/2+2m+1)th page on the leftside is printed. If, for example, N=8, the front surface including thesixth page on the right side and the third page on the left side and theback surface including the fourth page on the right side (the back sideof the third page) and the fifth page on the left side (the back side ofthe sixth page) undergo double-sided printing. Similarly, the frontsurface including the eighth page on the right side and the first pageon the left side and the back surface including the second page on theright side (the back side of the first page) and the seventh page on theleft side (the back side of the eighth page) undergo double-sidedprinting. The front surface on which the back cover is laid out on theright side and the front cover is laid out on the left side and the backsurface on which the back surface of the front cover is laid out on theright side and the back surface of the back cover is laid out on theleft side undergo double-sided printing. Note that the same applies toleft-side binding except that the above relationship between the rightand left sides is reversed.

[Case in which Side Stitch is Selected and Covers and Text are Createdby Different Types of Sheets]

Subsequently, an example of the edit screen when the binding method isside stitch (1-in-1) and the setting of using different types of sheetsfor the covers and text is made will be described with reference toFIGS. 7 and 8. When different types of sheets are used for the coversand text, a cover edit screen 700 shown in FIG. 7 and a text edit screen800 shown in FIG. 8 are used. Note that this form need not always beused but at least the screen is configured to execute printing of thecovers and text independently. If the cover edit screen 700 and the textedit screen 800 are separated, buttons for switching between the editscreens, for example, a cover selection button 701 and a text selectionbutton 702 in FIG. 7 are displayed in the edit region 401. When the userselects the cover selection button 701, the cover edit screen 700 shownin FIG. 7 is displayed. When the user selects the text selection button702, the text edit screen 800 shown in FIG. 8 is displayed. Note thatthese buttons may be displayed outside the edit region 401. Instead ofthe form of the button, for example, a tab form may be used. That is, atab for the cover edit screen and a tab for the text edit screen may bedisplayed, and one of the tabs may be selected to switch the screen.

In the cover edit screen, only the front cover and the back cover aredisplayed, as shown in FIG. 7. Note that the front cover and the backcover are displayed in a form when viewing the booklet from the spineside. That is, for right-side binding, the front cover is displayed onthe left side and the back cover is displayed on the right side. On theother hand, for left-side binding, the front cover is displayed on theright side and the back cover is displayed on the left side. If sidestitch is used, binding positions are displayed. However, in the coveredit screen, the binding positions are displayed on the center side whenthe front cover and the back cover are laid out side by side, as shownin FIG. 7. In the cover edit screen 700, the positional relationshipbetween the front cover and the back cover is reversed, as compared withthe edit screen, shown in FIG. 4 or 6, in which the covers and the textare collectively edited. This display allows the user to readilyrecognize how the booklet after printing looks like from the spine sidewhen the booklet is opened.

Note that in this embodiment, if different types of sheets are used forthe covers and text, the back surface of the front cover or that of theback cover is not used (that is, the back surface is blank). The presentinvention, however, is not limited to this. If the back surface of thefront cover or that of the back cover is used, the cover edit screendisplays, for example, the back surface of the front cover adjacent tothe front cover and the back surface of the back cover adjacent to theback cover. In the example of FIG. 7, the back surface of the frontcover can be displayed on the left side of the front cover and the backsurface of the back cover can be displayed on the right side of the backcover.

As shown in FIG. 8, in the text edit screen, the text except for thefront cover and the back cover (and their back surfaces) is displayed inthe edit region. The edit screen shown in FIG. 8 is the same as thatshown in FIG. 4 except that the front cover, the back cover, and theirback surfaces are not included.

[Case in which Saddle Stitch is Selected and Covers and Text are Createdby Different Types of Sheets]

The edit screen when saddle stitch is selected and the setting of usingdifferent types of sheets for the covers and text is made is the same asthat shown in FIG. 7 or 8 except that the marks of the binding positionsare not displayed. Note that for saddle stitch, the number of pagesneeds to be a multiple of 4, as described above. However, if differenttypes of sheets are used for the covers and text, the number of pages ofthe text needs to be a multiple of 4. That is, in the above-describedexample, adjustment is performed so that the total number of pages ofthe covers and text is a multiple of 4. In this example, however,adjustment is performed so that the number of pages of only the text isa multiple of 4. As a result, in this example, if the back surfaces ofthe covers undergo single-sided printing, the total number of pages ofthe covers and text is not a multiple of 4 (when a is an integer, thetotal number of pages is given by (4 a+2)). For example, if an editoperation is performed so that the text includes data for six pages, 2blank pages or the like is inserted so that the number of pages of thetext is a multiple of 4. Note that the page inserted at this time is notlimited to a blank page, and may be a page including a fixed phrase,fixed figure, or fixed pattern.

Note that it is possible to execute borderless printing by using paper(for example, glossy paper) except for normal paper. FIG. 9 shows anexample of the edit screen in this case. Note that if the setting ofusing different types of sheets for the covers and text is made, thecover edit screen and the text edit screen are displayed independently.Display of one of the cover edit screen and the text edit screen can beswitched by selecting the tab included in each edit screen. FIG. 9 showsan example of the cover edit screen in the state in which borderlessprint setting is made. When executing borderless printing, so-called“bleed” as processing of performing control so that a print target imagehas a size in at least one of width and height larger than that of asheet on which printing is executed needs to be performed. Therefore, ifpaper such as glossy paper that can undergo borderless printing isselected, a print region 902 of a size including bleed and anexplanation 903 can be displayed. Furthermore, an option 901 used toenlarge/reduce an image based on original data in accordance with a sizeincluding bleed is displayed. This allows the user to create covers byborderless printing by only performing a simple operation.

Upon completion of the edit processing using the screens shown in FIGS.4 to 9, the user selects a print setting button included in each ofthese screens. The user performs further print setting processing usinga print setting screen selected by selecting the print setting button,thereby selecting print execution. This processing sends applicationdata generated by the bookbinding application to the printer drivercorresponding to the printer selected in FIG. 3, and the printer drivergenerates print data based on the application data. Note that if thecovers and text are printed on the same type of sheets, the applicationdata includes pages laid out in the covers and pages laid out in thetext. That is, the pages laid out in the covers and the pages laid outin the text are printed using the print data based on the applicationdata. On the other hand, if the covers and text are printed on thedifferent types of sheets, the pages laid out in the covers and thepages laid out in the text are printed independently. Therefore, theabove-described print setting screen prepares an option for selectingthe covers or the text as a print target. In this case, if the userinstructs printing in the state in which the covers are selected, theapplication data includes only pages laid out in the covers, and theprinter driver generates print data for the covers. On the other hand,if the user instructs printing in the state in which the text isselected, the application data includes only pages laid out in the text,and the printer driver generates print data for the text.

First Embodiment [Layout in Booklet Printing]

FIGS. 10A and 10B are views for explaining the layout of pages inbooklet printing according to this embodiment. A booklet formed fromeight pages including a front cover and a back cover will beexemplified. FIG. 10A shows image data sorted in a page order from thefront cover (first page) to the back cover (eighth page). Referring toFIGS. 10A and 10B, each of pairs of the second and third pages, thefourth and fifth pages, and the sixth and seventh pages has a spreadrelationship.

FIG. 10B shows the layout to be printed on sheets when printing theimage data shown in FIG. 10A with the saddle stitch setting. In thisexample, double-sided printing is executed with the 2-in-1 layout. Thecenter of each sheet corresponds to the folding position of the sheet,and stapling is performed around the center. The image of the eighthpage (back cover) and that of the first page (front cover) are laid outon the front surface of the first sheet. The image of the second pageand that of the seventh page are laid out on the back surface of thefirst sheet. The image of the sixth page and that of the third page arelaid out on the front surface of the second sheet. The image of thefourth page and that of the fifth page are laid out on the back surfaceof the second sheet. This layout makes it possible to create a left-sidestitch, leftward booklet.

[Occurrence of Blank Page in Booklet Printing]

FIG. 11 is a view for explaining the occurrence of a blank page inbooklet printing described with reference to FIGS. 10A and 10B. Anexample of executing booklet printing using five images will now bedescribed.

In printing with the 2-in-1 setting, images for four pages are printedon one sheet. That is, when the five images are laid out, as shown inFIGS. 10A and 10B, the images for five pages are laid out in regionswhere images for eight pages can be laid out, respectively, and thusregions for three blank pages are generated. That is, the necessarynumber of images and the layout positions of the images for a pluralityof sheets forming a booklet change in accordance with the number ofimages to be allocated to one sheet (N-in-1 setting), the shape of thebooklet as a printing product, and the like. Therefore, if the number ofpages on which the images are laid out does not reach the number ofpages necessary to form the booklet, a blank page unintended by the userunwantedly occurs.

A practical example in which a blank page unintended by the user occurswill be described. In printing with the N-in-1 setting, the number ofpages necessary to form a booklet is given by N×2. If a number M ofimages laid out on the pages by the user is less than N×2, blank pagesthe number of which is given by N×2−M are automatically inserted. Notethat in printing with the N-in-1 setting where N is 2 or more or thesaddle stitch setting, the possibility that a blank page is insertedautomatically is higher. However, in printing with 1-in-1 setting or theside stitch setting as well, a blank page can be inserted automatically.

However, it takes time for the user to confirm every time whether ablank page has occurred due to a small number of pages on which imagesare laid out.

On the other hand, there is also a blank page inserted intentionally bythe user. As described above, the user can insert a blank pageintentionally by pressing a button 412 in an edit screen 400 shown inFIG. 4 to execute a blank page addition instruction. In this case, it isnecessary to identifiably present whether the blank page is insertedintentionally by the user or inserted automatically by the system basedon the print setting and the like.

In consideration of the above point, this embodiment will describe anarrangement for notifying the user that the blank page is insertedautomatically.

[Processing Procedure]

Processing according to this embodiment will be described with referenceto FIG. 12. A processing procedure shown in FIG. 12 is implemented whena CPU 103 of an information processing apparatus 101 on which abookbinding application 201 operates reads out a program correspondingto the bookbinding application 201 from an external storage device 106or the like and executes it. This processing may be executed whenperforming a print instruction in a print screen or when displaying aprint preview screen. Alternatively, this processing may be executedwith reference to an editing result every time the user performs someediting in the edit screen.

In step S1201, the CPU 103 obtains information concerning pages includedin an edit region. The information obtained at this time includes, forexample, information concerning whether pages included in the editregion include a blank page, and information concerning whether a blankpage included in the edit region is a page inserted by the user.

In step S1202, based on the information obtained in step S1201, the CPU103 determines whether the pages included in the edit region include ablank page. If the CPU 103 determines that the pages included in theedit region include a blank page (YES in step S1202), the processadvances to step S1203; otherwise (NO in step S1203), the process endswithout executing notification processing (to be described later).

In step S1203, based on the information obtained in step S1201, the CPU103 determines whether all the blank pages included in the edit regionare pages inserted by the user. A blank page inserted by the userindicates a page inserted based on reception of a blank page insertioninstruction from the user, more specifically, a page added when the userpresses the “add blank page” button 412. On the other hand, a blank pagenot inserted by the user (an automatically inserted blank page)indicates a page inserted automatically (without any user instruction toinsert a blank page) by the bookbinding application 201, as will bedescribed later. If the CPU 103 determines that all the blank pagesincluded in the edit region are pages inserted by the user (YES in stepS1203), the process ends without executing the notification processing(to be described later). On the other hand, if any of the blank pagesincluded in the edit region is not a page inserted by the user (NO instep S1203), the process advances to step S1204.

In step S1204, the CPU 103 executes the notification processing ofnotifying the user of information concerning the blank page. Thisprocessing will be described in detail later. Then, the processingprocedure ends.

[Notification]

A notification screen (notification region) according to thisembodiment, which is displayed in the notification processing executedin step S1204, will be described.

FIG. 13 shows an example of a screen displayed when the processing shownin FIG. 12 is performed by displaying a print setting screen 1301 andpressing a print button 1302 by the user. When the print button 1302 ispressed and the processing in step S1204 of FIG. 12 is performed, anotification screen 1303 is displayed. That is, the notificationprocessing can be executed in response to execution of a printinstruction by the user. A message indicating that there is a blank pageis displayed on the notification screen 1303. Contents of the messageare merely an example, and may include, for example, informationconcerning the number and positions (page numbers) of pagescorresponding to blank pages. When the user presses an OK button 1304,print processing is executed with the current settings. When the userpresses a cancel button 1305, the control returns to the print settingscreen 1301. At this time, the screen may transition to the edit screenor the preview screen to display information concerning the blank pages.

FIG. 14 shows another example of a notification according to thisembodiment. FIG. 14 shows an example of a notification when theprocessing shown in FIG. 12 is performed at the time of displaying aprint preview screen 1400. That is, the notification processing can beexecuted when the user performs a display instruction of the printpreview screen. The print preview screen 1400 includes a display region1401 where images are displayed in a page order and a display region1402 where the layout of the images on printed materials is displayed.FIG. 14 shows an example of a booklet formed from eight pages includingthe covers (front cover and back cover) based on the print settings.

In the display region 1401, regions for eight pages are displayed in apage order. In this example, pages on which five images are laid out andone designated blank page are displayed. The “designated blank page”indicates a blank page designated by the user to be inserted. A page1403 is displayed as a designated blank page. Furthermore, two blankpages 1404 are displayed. The blank pages 1404 are highlighted byframes. Note that the display methods of the designated blank page andthe blank pages are not limited to them, and other display methods maybe used.

In the display region 1402, the print layout for printed materialsincluding regions for eight pages is displayed. A page 1405 is adesignated blank page, and corresponds to the page 1403. Blank pages1406 correspond to the blank pages 1404. The blank pages 1406 are alsohighlighted by frames. Note that the display method of the blank pagesmay be different between the display regions 1401 and 1402. A message1407 is used to make a notification of information concerning the blankpages. Note that the display methods of the message 1407 and the blankpages may be switched by user settings.

Note that the timing of performing the notification processing is notlimited to that in the above-described form. For example, thenotification processing may be performed in the edit screen by executingthe processing shown in FIG. 12 with reference to an editing resultevery time the user performs some editing in the edit screen. In theedit screen, the automatically inserted blank pages may be highlightedto be discriminated from the remaining pages.

As described above, according to this embodiment, by making anotification of the existence of a blank page, it is possible to preventoutput of printed materials including a blank page unintended by theuser. In addition, the user can readily recognize that an unintendedblank page is laid out.

Note that even in a situation other than the above-described situation,a blank page may be inserted automatically. The situation will bedescribed in detail below.

FIGS. 15A to 15C are views for explaining other print layouts to whichthe present invention is applicable. As the arrangement of a booklet,the booklet may be created from one sheet. FIG. 15A shows an example ofcreating a booklet by laying out eight images and executing printingwith the 8-in-1 print setting, and cutting a portion of a line 1501 tofold the sheet.

FIG. 15B shows a case in which when assuming a printed material shown inFIG. 15A, an image indicated by “4” is set with a spread setting to spantwo regions (a region 1511). In this case, in response to an imagelayout instruction, an image indicated by “8” is pushed out to the backsurface of the sheet and laid out in a region 1512. In this case,portions corresponding to seven regions on the back surface areautomatically inserted as blank pages. A notification may be made foreach of the blank pages.

FIG. 15C shows a case in which when assuming the printed material shownin FIG. 15A, a spread setting is made so that the image indicated by “8”spans the entire sheet. In this case, the image indicated by “8” is laidout on the entire back surface of the sheet (a region 1522). In thiscase, a region 1521 where the image indicated by “8” was laid out isautomatically inserted as a blank page. With respect to the region 1521,a notification that the region 1521 is a blank page may be made.

FIG. 16A shows an example in which seven images are laid out in regionsin which eight images can be laid out, respectively. An image indicatedby “5” is set with a spread setting, and is laid out to span regions fortwo pages.

FIG. 16B assumes that image A is inserted between the page in which theimage indicated by “2” is laid out and the page in which the imageindicated by “3” is laid out. In this case, the images after “3” areshifted to the subsequent pages. However, the image indicated by “5” isdisplayed in a double-page spread, and thus cannot be shifted by onepage to be laid out. This is because the page and its subsequent page inwhich the image indicated by “5” is laid out by shifting by one pagehave no spread relationship, and thus the image cannot be displayed in aspread. As shown in FIG. 16C, the spread of the image indicated by “5”is maintained by automatically inserting a blank page at a position nextto a position where image A is laid out. In this case, the automaticallyinserted blank page may be recognized, and a notification of it may bemade.

Second Embodiment

In the first embodiment, the information concerning the blank pages isdisplayed on the preview screen, as shown in FIG. 14. In the secondembodiment, a different display method in the preview screen will bedescribed. Note that a description of the arrangement which overlaps thefirst embodiment will be omitted.

[Notification]

FIGS. 17A to 17C are views each for explaining the notification methodof a blank page in the preview screen according to this embodiment.Referring to FIGS. 17A and 17C, only a display region 1401 shown in FIG.14 is extracted and shown. In this embodiment, a method of displaying onthe preview screen is switched in accordance with the print settings.

FIG. 17A shows a display example when “2-in-1”, “double-sided printing”,“booklet printing”, and “left-side stitch” are set as print settings. InFIG. 17A, the left side is set as the beginning of the pages, and astate in which blank pages 1701 for three pages exist in the latter half(right side) is displayed.

FIG. 17B shows a display example when “2-in-1”, “double-sided printing”,“booklet printing”, and “right-side stitch” are set as print settings.In FIG. 17B, the right side is set as the beginning of the pages, and astate in which blank pages 1702 for three pages exist in the latter half(left side) is displayed.

FIG. 17C shows a display example when “1-in-1”, “double-sided printing”,“booklet printing”, and “left-side stitch” are set as print settings. InFIG. 17C, the left side is set as the beginning of the pages, and astate in which the last page (the back side of the third sheet) is ablank page is displayed.

The above-described print settings can be obtained in step S1201 of FIG.12, and display is switched based on the print settings. Furthermore,since, as described above, regions where an image can be laid out arespecified based on the print settings, a region (blank page) where noimage is laid out is decided. Note that the remaining processes are thesame as those shown in FIG. 12 described in the first embodiment.

As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible toprevent output of printed materials including a blank page unintended bythe user. Furthermore, the user can readily recognize, by thenotification method changed in accordance with the print setting, thatan unintended blank page is laid out.

Third Embodiment

In the second embodiment, the display method of the blank page isswitched in accordance with the print settings in the preview screen.This embodiment will further describe different display methods in apreview screen based on the presence/absence of a cover setting. Notethat a description of the arrangement which overlaps the secondembodiment will be omitted.

[Notification]

FIGS. 18A and 18B are views each for explaining the notification methodof a blank page in the preview screen according to this embodiment.Referring to FIGS. 18A and 18B, only a display region 1401 shown in FIG.14 is extracted and shown. In this embodiment, whether to provide thecovers of a booklet is settable as a cover setting included in printsettings. For example, if the cover setting is made, a setting of usinga different sheet and the like can be made individually for the covers.Thus, if the setting of using the covers is made, display different fromthat in the second embodiment is performed.

FIG. 18A shows a display example when “2-in-1”, “double-sided printing”,“booklet printing”, “left-side stitch”, and “absence of covers” are setas print settings. In FIG. 18A, the left side is set as the beginning ofthe pages, and a state in which blank pages 1801 for three pages existin the latter half (right side) is displayed.

FIG. 18B shows a display example when “2-in-1”, “double-sided printing”,“booklet printing”, “left-side stitch”, and “presence of covers” are setas print settings. In FIG. 18B, the left side is set as the beginning ofthe pages, and a front cover 1802 and a back cover 1804 are provided.Furthermore, a state in which blank pages 1803 for three pages existbefore the back cover 1804 is displayed.

The above-described print settings can be obtained in step S1201 of FIG.12, and display is switched based on the print settings. Furthermore,since, as described above, a region where an image can be laid out isspecified based on the print settings, a region (blank page) where noimage is laid out is decided. Note that the remaining processes are thesame as those shown in FIG. 12 described in the first embodiment.

As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible toprevent output of printed materials including a blank page unintended bythe user. Furthermore, the user can readily recognize, by thenotification method changed in accordance with the presence/absence ofthe covers, that an unintended blank page is laid out.

Other Embodiments

Embodiment(s) of the present invention can also be realized by acomputer of a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computerexecutable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on astorage medium (which may also be referred to more fully asanon-transitory computer-readable storage medium') to perform thefunctions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/orthat includes one or more circuits (e.g., application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the functions of one or moreof the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method performed by thecomputer of the system or apparatus by, for example, reading out andexecuting the computer executable instructions from the storage mediumto perform the functions of one or more of the above-describedembodiment(s) and/or controlling the one or more circuits to perform thefunctions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s). Thecomputer may comprise one or more processors (e.g., central processingunit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU)) and may include a network ofseparate computers or separate processors to read out and execute thecomputer executable instructions. The computer executable instructionsmay be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or thestorage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or moreof a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM),a storage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as acompact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™),a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2018-129465, filed Jul. 6, 2018, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. A control method for an information processingapparatus, comprising: editing, based on a user instruction, a pluralityof pages which are displayed on a display unit of the informationprocessing apparatus and on which images designated by a user can belaid out; making, if the plurality of pages include a blank page onwhich no image is laid out, a notification to the user; and generating,based on a result of the editing, print data for printing the pluralityof pages.
 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprisingreceiving, from the user, an addition instruction to add the blank pageto the plurality of pages, wherein if all the blank pages included inthe plurality of pages are the blank pages added to the plurality ofpages based on reception of the addition instruction, the notificationis not executed.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein thenotification is processing of displaying a notification region fornotifying the user that the plurality of pages include the blank page.4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the notification is executedin a state in which an edit screen is displayed.
 5. The method accordingto claim 3, wherein the notification is executed in a state in which apreview screen indicating a print result of the plurality of pages isdisplayed.
 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the notificationis executed based on reception of a print instruction to executeprinting based on the print data from the user.
 7. The method accordingto claim 1, wherein in the notification, a notification of the number ofblank pages included in the plurality of pages is made.
 8. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein in the notification, a notification of anumber of the blank page included in the plurality of pages is made. 9.The method according to claim 1, further comprising automatically addingthe blank page to the plurality of pages based on reception of apredetermined instruction from the user, wherein if the blank pageautomatically added to the plurality of pages is included in theplurality of pages, the notification is executed.
 10. The methodaccording to claim 9, wherein the predetermined instruction is a layoutinstruction to lay out an image laid out on a predetermined pageincluded in the plurality of pages to span the predetermined page and apage adjacent to the predetermined page, the blank page is automaticallyadded to the plurality of pages by editing based on the layoutinstruction, and if the blank page automatically added to the pluralityof pages by the editing based on the layout instruction is included inthe plurality of pages, the notification is executed.
 11. The methodaccording to claim 9, further comprising receiving a setting forprinting a plurality of images on one print medium, wherein if thenumber of images laid out on the plurality of pages does not reach thenumber of the plurality of pages decided based on the setting, the blankpage is automatically added to the plurality of pages.
 12. The methodaccording to claim 9, further comprising receiving, from the user, anaddition instruction to add the blank page to the plurality of pages,which is different from the predetermined instruction, wherein if allthe blank pages included in the plurality of pages are the blank pagesadded to the plurality of pages based on reception of the additioninstruction, the notification is not executed, and if at least one ofthe blank pages included in the plurality of pages is the blank pageautomatically added to the plurality of pages without receiving theaddition instruction, the notification is executed.
 13. The methodaccording to claim 1, further comprising: receiving, from the user, anoutput instruction to output the generated print data; and outputtingthe generated print data based on reception of the output instruction.14. The method according to claim 13, wherein even if the plurality ofpages include a blank page on which no image is laid out, the outputinstruction can be received.
 15. The method according to claim 13,wherein the output is sending of the generated print data.
 16. Aninformation processing apparatus comprising: an editing unit configuredto edit, based on a user instruction, a plurality of pages which aredisplayed on a display unit of the information processing apparatus andon which images designated by a user can be laid out; a notificationunit configured to make, if the plurality of pages include a blank pageon which no image is laid out, a notification to the user; and ageneration unit configured to generate, based on a result of theediting, print data for printing the plurality of pages.
 17. Anon-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program for causing acomputer to execute a method, comprising: editing, based on a userinstruction, a plurality of pages which are displayed on a display unitof the computer and on which images designated by a user can be laidout; making, if the plurality of pages include a blank page on which noimage is laid out, a notification to the user; and generating, based ona result of the editing, print data for printing the plurality of pages.